Quan, Batts promise more action on Oakland Police reforms

Mayor Jean Quan and Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts joined forces Thursday to respond publicly to a federal judge’s warnings about possible unjustified use of force of Oakland police officers.

“There is nothing more important than this,” Batts said during Mayor Quan’s weekly press briefing at City Hall on Thursday. “We will not take a defensive position on the court findings.”

Hours before the press conference, the three Oakland officials attended a hearing at the Northern California District Court in which they responded to Judge Thelton Henderson’s review of police use of force in Oakland. The hearing was part of a formal settlement agreement, overseen by the court, that is intended to monitor and improve procedures and services of the city’s police department.